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Houston Airport System
May 19, 2006
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Courage, accountability and honor were the theme of this year’s Humble Area Chamber of Commerce’s Peace Officers of the Year Awards Luncheon.
Among the dignitary-studded crowd that turned out to celebrate the men and women who put their lives on the line each day in the name of public safety were Humble Mayor Donnie McMannes, several Humble councilmembers and the Houston Airport System’s (HAS) own Mark Mancuso, deputy director of public safety.
Mancuso was there in honor of the chamber’s first recognition of airport police officers in this important awards ceremony.
Every year, for the past decade, the Humble Area Chamber of Commerce has put together this appreciation luncheon to commemorate the hard-work and dedication of police officers from all branches of law enforcement.
In the past, these honorees have included the Humble Police Department, the Houston Police Department, the New Caney Fire Department and the Harris County Constable’s Office, among others. This year, for the first time, the Houston Airport System’s police officers division was also honored.
Officers Joseph A. Matas and Gary Booker, from the HAS police division, both received awards for their heroic efforts in preventing the theft of over $55,000 in airport property. |
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© Houston Airport System
Officers Joseph A. Matas (top) and Gary Booker (bottom) celebrate with HAS' deputy director of public safety Mark Mancuso. |
In 2005, the Houston Airport System and the Federal Aviation Administration reported the theft of over $55,000 in landscaping equipment from Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
With little clues and even fewer leads, officers Matas and Booker began their investigation into the case and never gave up on recuperating the missing equipment. Through their determination and strong-will, the officers located the missing equipment in the Bryan College Station area two months later and were able to return it to IAH.
While receiving an award for “a regular day’s work” was somewhat unusual for the two police officers, both expressed gratitude for the recognition of the airport system’s police division as a vital part of law enforcement.
“A lot of people forget about airport police officers when they think about law enforcement,” said officer Matas. “Events like this, however, remind people that we are an important part of law enforcement.”
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